Have you already discovered this wonderful super-fruit – the Pomegranate?
Pomegranates are beautiful delicious vibrant red fruits that are super anti-oxidants, the highest of any other fruit, red wine or green tea. They are high in polyphenols, great source of vitamin B, vitamin C and vitamin K, as well as calcium and phosphorus. This combination of vitamins and minerals creates a powerful food source that prevents and reverses many diseases.
- An average serving of pomegranate juice has 134 calories and 32.7 grams of carbohydrates, which come mostly from glucose and fructose.
- One glass of pomegranate juice contains less than one gram of both protein and fat.
- Pomegranate juice is completely free of cholesterol.
- One serving of pomegranate juice has about 32% of the FDA’s recommended daily value (RDV) of Vitamin K.
- One serving of pomegranate juice also has 27% of the RDV of potassium.
- One serving of pomegranate juice contains 15% of the RDV of folate, giving even more benefits to expecting women.
- A glass of pomegranate juice also contains 45% of the RDV of Vitamin C.
- Studies show that regularly drinking pomegranate juice might help reduce plaque build-up in the coronary and carotid arteries
- Pomegranate juice is often compared to other drinks that contain polyphenol, which is where the pomegranate derives its antioxidants from, is 20% more potent than red wine, green tea, and blueberry extract. (source)
There are many ways you can enjoy pomegranates. You can just eat the seeds (arils) on it’s own (like my sweetie in the above photos does ;), you can juice them, add to a fruit salad or I even like to add to a leafy green salad.
Pomegranate Green Salad
romaine lettuce, broad beans (cooked from frozen, skins peeled), avocado, arils of pomegranate
dressing: 3 tbsp of olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice (to taste), celery seeds, sea salt and pepper to taste. mix and drizzle over the salad. Enjoy.
Choose a ripe red fruit that feels heavy without any dark spots or cracks on the skin. To open a pomegranate, first cut off its crown and then cut into sections. Are you worried about being splattered all over? Consider breaking it open in a bowl of water!
How do you like your pomegranates? Remember to pick some up next time you’re out grocery shopping if you haven’t had one in a while ;) Cheers to good health! (especially in these still wintery months ;) xo
giozi says
I’ve never like it very much, in spanish called granada, in my country Peru there are too.
But last New Year I ate it on salad and I love it.
shannon says
yum, yum and more yum! (and lovely photos!) for some reason i wasn’t sure if you could eat the seeds or if you just sucked the juice from the seeds! thanks for teaching me something new today. i’ll be getting one on my next visit to the store. i know a certain 3 year old who will LOVE them. thanks!
Ella says
Shannon, in my so called ‘research’ I read that the seeds have lots of fibre. My daughter didn’t like them at one point when she was younger and she spit them out. But now she eats the arils whole.
I guess too much isn’t good for little ones because it could affect their bowels. I think it’s time to get a few more pom’s – we’re all out. Today my daughter is craving a papaya – I think I’ll post about that next ;)
Thanks for stopping by! xox
The Fairy's Apprentice says
I love it in the lebanese salad named tabouleh, but I don’t usualy eat pomegranate.
Here is the video from Granada, with the Flamenco dancer, especially for you :).
http://thefairysapprentice.blogspot.com/2011/02/flamenco-dancers-il-gallo-granada.html
Ella says
Funny, the pomegranate (pomme-grenade) used to be referred to as the ‘apple of Grenada’ at one point in history ;)
The tabbouleh salad sounds good (I think I’ve had it before but without the pomegranate) – I will make my own version for sure with the pomegranate and possibly quinoa – since I can’t eat the bulgur. Yumm….
And THANK YOU so much for the video link to the flamenco dancer – she is wonderful and I love that music too ;)
ana @ i made it so says
i’ve had pomegranate since i was a young child. it’s so delicious just like that, with the arils picked out and devoured. my mouth is watering just looking at those photos! yummm! very nice, ella.
Ella says
Thank you miss Ana. I think I know what the fam is having for a snack today ;)
xo
AG Ambroult says
a ha! break it open in a bowl of water. genius! The juice stains on the ceiling are one of the reasons I avoid buying them, though my girls begs for them daily. Thanks for that hot tip :)
and the salad recipe sounds delicious!